Recent studies and insights show that a big piece of the puzzle to unleash employee potential lies in providing what they are already asking for - experiences. In particular, providing immersive learning experiences are a proven way to both recognize and develop your employees. By capitalizing on the science which links immersive travel experiences to happiness and productivity, leaders across the C-Suite and human resource departments can unlock the untapped potential of their employees.

Our next installment in our blog series - "Igniting Insights: Interviews on Profession & Purpose.” Our journeys are filled with diverse and inspiring travelers from around the country. In this series, we sit down with entrepreneurs, experts and creatives who have joined our journeys and get insider insights. In this installment, Lindsay Weickert chats about how recruiting and talent development go hand-in-hand.

Our next installment in our blog series - "Igniting Insights: Interviews on Profession & Purpose.” Our journeys are filled with diverse and inspiring travelers from around the country. In this series, we sit down with entrepreneurs, experts and creatives who have joined our journeys and get insider insights. In this installment, Sonya Jackson chats about leadership and creativity in both corporate America and beyond.

In the 25+ years I spent working in HR for both fortune 500 companies and small fast growing startups, we developed countless initiatives to engage and inspire our employees. Each time, however, we were unable to gain the momentum we’d hoped for. That’s why, when I heard of a company called Ignite that claimed to engage and inspire employees through international immersion trips, I was skeptical. Could these “purposeful journeys” (as they call them) really be the answer to the purpose gap that exists in the workplace?

Employees are a company’s greatest asset. Our people are critical to the success of our businesses. Forbes named 2018 the year of the employee experience, highlighting the importance of employee engagement, and yet effective strategies and solutions to this challenge can be rare and elusive. We recently asked corporate executives and HR leaders across a wide range of industries to share their most successful strategies and ideas for investing in employees.

Why defining your mission & values upfront provides employees' purpose & meaning in their work - we all want to contribute to the “Grand Human Drama.” When employees are connected to a company’s purpose and have meaning in their work, they perform better. Positive-psychology theorists suggest that a sense of purpose is a key indicator in understanding why some people thrive and others do not. This sense of purpose connects them more easily to others in the workplace, a major contributor to employee happiness.

Our journeys are filled with diverse and inspiring travelers from around the country. In our "Igniting Insights: Interviews on Profession & Purpose” series, we'll sit down with entrepreneurs, experts and creatives who have joined our journeys and get insider insights. First up? Entrepreneur Kara Walsh shares marketing, partnership and travel advice she has gained from the launch of her company - No Small Plan.

Regardless of whether you are a small tech start-up or a fortune 500 company, addressing diversity and inclusion has become a necessity. Initially fueled by shifting demographics in the workforce, today most companies realize that creating a diverse team and an inclusive culture drives business results. Creating a more inclusive culture requires facilitating experiences that allow your people to take meaningful steps forward on this journey.

Travel has long been associated with enhanced creativity, improved intelligence, better health, and connection across cultures. For companies, it can also build the employer brand and support recruiting, reduce burnout, enhance productivity and build cultural fluency. Given the benefits of travel to employers and the enthusiasm from employees for continued global engagement, there is a clear ROI for companies to integrate travel into their employee experience.

"Connection. It was, and still is, what gives my life meaning. But what is it that makes these connections authentic and meaningful?" -- Some thoughts on the transformational power of openness and empathy.